Capital /Does the Government Have the Right to Play God?

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Capital Punishment
Does the Government Have the Right to "Play God"?
While researching this topic, the information available against capital punishment is overwhelming. This alone does not reflect why my attitude and convictions on the subject has changed. The sanctity of life is priceless. It is my belief that only God has the authority to decide when our time on Earth should end.
Ronald Carlson's sister was murdered. in 1983 in Texas. Before his sister's death, he pointed out he did not condemn or agree with capital punishment. Carlson remembered feelings of extreme hatred for the murderer of his sister. Carlson stated "Watching the execution left me with horror and emptiness, confirming what I had already come to realize: Capital punishment only continues the violence that has a powerful, corrosive effect on society." (DIPC. n.d.Web. 28 Apr. 2014.)
National Geographic supports an article by Alex Manning, "5 Surprising Facts about the Death Penalty Worldwide." The five facts are:
1. The U.S. ranked fifth for the highest number of executions.
2. Saudi Arabia saw the execution of one man by crucifixion.
3. China keeps its execution numbers secret.
4. Japan's executions actually increased in 2012 after a long hiatus.
5. Just 21 countries in the world carried out the death penalty last year. (Manning, Alex. 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.)
According to an article which was published in the Time Magazine and written by Chris Wilson, Executions have been maintained in a variety of ways in the U.S. since the early 1700's, 15,717 people have been put to death under the law of Capital Punishment. From 1700 to 1800, during the Salem witch days, 65 burnings terminated life. Again, in 1800 to 1850, 130 ...

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...nt. The costs are exorbitant and in no way serve as a deterrent to society. Is this justice for the victim or victim's family? Murder in the U.S. is staggering. Life imprisonment is not working. Without law, order is non-existent. The scales of justice must be equally balanced otherwise anarchy and chaos are the result.
However, capital punishment is not working either. What about the person convicted of murder and 12 years later, they are innocent because of technology? Our imperfect judicial system can convict the innocent because we are human and we error.
With that in mind, I firmly disagree that a judge or jury decides whether a person should live or die. Those who support capital punishment feel the same passion as those who oppose it. The sanctity of life is priceless. Support our laws or seek to change them. I believe it is time to change them.

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